Anthracyclidine-acetic acid derivatives

ABSTRACT

The total synthesis of tetracycline-type antibiotics by a multistep process beginning with 3,4,10-trioxo-1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a, 10-octahydroanthracenes comprising: (1) an aldol condensation with a glyoxalic acid ester to give a 2-carboxymethylidene3,4,10-trioxo-1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracene ester; (2) Michael reaction of said ester with an amine to produce a 3,4,10trioxo-1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracene-2-( Alpha amino)acetic acid ester; (3) conversion of the triketone to the corresponding 4,10-diketone by (a) selective reduction of the Michael reaction product to the corresponding 3-hydroxy compound, followed by conversion of the 3-hydroxy compound to the corresponding 3-formyloxy compound and removal of the 3-formyloxy group by treatment with zinc dust to give a 4,10-dioxo1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracene-2-( Alpha -amino)acetic acid ester; or (b) conversion of the hydrochloride salt of the Michael reaction product to a lactone by reaction with p-toluenesulfonic acid and treatment of the lactone with zinc dust formic acid; (4) conversion of the 4,10-diketo-1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10octahydroanthracene-2-( Alpha -amino)acetic acid to a mixed anhydride; (5) followed by acylation of a malonic acid ester with the mixed anhydride; (6) cyclization of the acyl malonate derivative to a 12a-deoxytetracycline which is then hydroxylated to a tetracycline. The preparation of the 3,4,10-trioxo1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracenes from benzoyl halides by (a) Friedel-Crafts reaction of a benzoyl halide with a pyrocatechol ether, e.g., a di-(lower)alkyl ether, to produce a 3,4-di-(lower)alkoxybenzophenone; (b) conversion of the benzophenone by partial or complete reduction of the carbonyl group by chemical or catalytic methods to a 3,4-di-(lower)alkoxy diphenyl methanol or 3,4-di-(lower)alkoxy diphenyl methane; or to a 3,4-di-(lower)alkoxy diphenyl alkane via a Grignard reaction and reduction of the thus-produced alkanol; (c) oxidation of the 3,4-di-(lower)alkoxy diphenyl alkane, or the corresponding dihydroxy compound, to a dienedioic acid ester or dienedioic acid; (d) hydrogenation of the dienedioic acid compound to a benzyl adipic acid derivative; (e) cyclization of said compound to a 2-(2-carbalkoxyethyl)-4-tetralone by means of dehydrating or dehydrohalogenating agents; (f) cyclization of the 4-tetralone derivatives by condensation with a dialkyloxalate to give a 2carbalkoxy 3,4,10-trioxo-octahydroanthracene; and (g) removal of the 2-substituent by decarboxylation. The intermediates and final products are useful as bactericides and/or chelating agents.

United States Patent 'Conover et al.

[15] 3,697,552 s Oct. to, 1972 DERIVATIVES [72] Inventors: Lloyd H. Conove r, Quaker Hill, Conn.; Robert B. Woodward, Belmont, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Pfizer Inc.

[22] Filed: Oct. 31, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 873,077

Related-US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 569,052, Aug. 1, 1966,

- Pat. No. 3,509,184, which is a continuation-inpart of Ser. No. 209,269, July 11, 1969, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser.

No. 132,304, Aug. 18, 1961, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. ..260/35l, 260/243 B, 260/247.2 A, 260/247.2 B, 260/247.5 B, 260/247.7 A,

Primary Examiner-Lorraine A. Weinberger Assistant Examiner-E. Jane Skelly Att0rney-Connolly and Hutz [57] ABSTRACT The total synthesis of tetracycline-type antibiotics by a multistep process beginning with 3,4,l0-trioxol ,2,3,4,4a,9,9a, l O-octahydroanthracenes comprising: (1) an aldol condensation with a glyoxalic acid ester to give a 2-carboxymethylidene-3,4,IO-trioxol ,2,3,4,4a,9,9a, l O-octahydroanthracene ester; (2)

Michael reaction of said ester with an amine to produce a 3,4,lO-trioxo-1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10 octahydroanthracene-2-(a-amino)acetic acid ester; (3) conversion of the triketone to the corresponding 4,10-

diketone by (a) selective reduction of the Michael reaction'product to the corresponding 3-hydroxy compound, followed by conversion of the 3-hydroxy compound to the corresponding 3-formyloxy compound and removal of the 3-forrnyloxy group by treatment with zinc dust to give a 4,10-dioxo-l,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,l0- octahydroanthracene-2-(a-amino)acetic acid ester; or (b) conversion of the hydrochloride salt of the Michael reaction product to a lactone by reaction with p-toluene-sulfonic acid and treatment of the lactone with zinc dust formic acid; (4) conversion of the 4,10- diketol ,2,3 ,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracene-2(aamino)acetic acid to a mixed anhydride; (5) followed by acylation of a malonic acid ester with the mixed anhydride; (6) cyclization of thev acyl malonate derivative to a l2a-deoxytetracycline which is then hydroxylated to a tetracycline. The preparation of the 3,4,l0- trioxo- 1 ,2,3 ,4,4a,9,9a, l 0-octahydroanthracenes from benzoyl halides by (a) Friedel-Crafts reaction of a benzoyl halide with a pyrocatechol ether, e.g., a di- (lower)alkyl ether, to produce a 3,4-di-(lower)alkoxbenzo henone; conversion of the benzo henone by partial or comi) e te reduction of the carbon yl group by chemical or catalytic methods to a 3,4-di- (lower)a1koxy diphenyl methanol or 3,4-di-(lower)alkoxy diphenyl methane; or tea '3,4-di-(lower)alkoxy diphenyl alkane via a Grignard reaction and reduction of the thus-produced alkanol; (c) oxidation of the 3,4-

di-(lower)alkoxy diphenyl alkane, or the corresponding dihydroxy compound, to a dienedioic acid ester or dienedioic acid; ((1) hydrogenation of the dienedioic acid compound to a benzyl adipic acid derivative; (e) cyclization of said compound to a 2-(2-carbalkoxyethyl)-4-tetralone by means of dehydrating or dehydrohalogenating agents; (f) cyclization of the 4- tetralone derivatives by condensation with a dialkyloxalate to give a 2-carbalkoxy 3,4,l0-trioxo-octahydroanthracene; and (g) removal of the 2-substituent by decarboxylation. The intermediates and final products are useful as bactericides and/or chelating agents.

1 1 Claims, No Drawings ANTI-IRACYC LIDINE-ACETIC ACID DERIVATIVES CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND or THE lNVENTlON D o B A 10/ 11 \12 1' CONE? (L109, 1 11W H 0 OH Among the biologically active members of this group 7 are those containing the following substituent groups:

Substituents Com mon Name tetracycline '-oxytetracycline 7-chlorotetracycline 6-deoxy-5- oxytetracycline 4-desdimethylamino- 5-oxytetracycline -deoxytetracycline 6-deoxy-6- demethyltetracycline 7'-bromotetracycline Substituents Common Name 6-demethyl-7- chlcTot tracycline 4-desdimethylaminoet yc in 4 -desdimethylaminc- 7. chlorotetracycline demethyltetracycline -deoxy--demethyl- I d -desdimethylaminotetracycline I The present new processes utilize 3,4',l0-trioxol,2,3,4,4a,9,9a, l 0-octahydroanthracene formula l) as ,starting materials to produce both known and new tetracyclines having the formulas new y;

XXV

wherein the various terms areas defined below, by the reaction sequence illustrated in Flow Sheet i. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several alternative routes exist for the conversion of compounds of formula I to the final products of formulas XVI and XVll. The particular route adopted for the preparation of a given tetracycline is largely dependent upon economic factors, such as availability of materials, and yields of reaction products throughout the sequence.

Further, the conditions for any reaction in the sequence can, unless otherwise indicated, be varied within the skill of the art. The actual conditions employed are determined by the above listed factors as well as by type and availability of equipment.

Provided that only-one of said R and R; substituents containing one to four carbon atoms; X is selected from the group consisting of cyano and O LNH P hydrogen and lower alkyl; I

X is selected from the group consisting of --CH CHOI-I, f

andC=O;' Y is selected from the group consisting of cyano and 1 lower carbalkoxy.

other groups according to procedures described FLOW SHEET I hereinafter. Thus, X, X and-X may be transformed to r hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, nitro, cyano, carbalkoxy, alkyl In the compounds of this sequence, X is selected sulfonyl, halo sulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, and sulfamyl. The from the group consistin f h d h d A substituent may be transformed to =CHB amino, trifluoromethyl, amino, monoand di-lower' aldi-lowel' alkylamino and a) kylai i lk yl mi n i i two n, f wherein B is selected from the group consisting of bonatoms, lower alkyl,alkanoyloxycontaining two to hydrogen and alkyl, by appropriate reactions as is four carbon atoms; and OR wherein R is selected from 40 diseussed belowv the group consisting of lower alkyl and benzyl; A wide variety of 4-aminotetracyclines are, of

X is selected from;.the group consisting of hydrogen, course, P p according to the P esem Processes by h1 lower lk l d n-ifl h l; substituting various primary or secondary alkyl, aralkyl X is l t d f th group consisting of hydrogen or aryl amines for dimethylamine. Suitable amines in hyd xy, d OR i hi h R i as. previously clude other dialkylammes, e.g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, d fi d; etc. amines; aralkyl and alkaryl amines, andN-alkyl A is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, derivativee e e -gy fil y in lower alkyl, and B OC H(B wherein B2 is lower t m yq e amines, -g: py m ph alkyl and B3 is selected from the group consisting ammopyfldmee and y derlvatlves thereof;

is selected from the group consisting of alkanoyl- I wherein R is selected from the group consisting of Itshould be noted that althoughthe X, x, and x intermediates for their production may be replaced by of hydrogen and lower al I; .arylamines, e.g. aniline and substituted derivatives X3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, thereof wherein the substituent is hydroxy, carbalkoxy, lower alkyiand benzyl; nitro and amino; and ammonia. Further, hydroxyalkyl R is selected fr th ro i ti f X d substituents on the nitrogen, where protected for some z'xe (mixed anhydride) in which X is lower 1- of the reaction steps by ether formationor acylation, as kyl; 1 discussed below, may subsequently be regenerated, R andR when taken together with the nitrogen -JW HBY cleavage y y atom to which they are attached from a nitrogen of the Present new compounds of Pameular Value heteroc yclic ring l t d fr th group i are those containing the following benzenoid moiety: ing of piperazino, piperidino, morpholino, pyrrolo, pyrrolidino, 1 2-(lowr ca'r'balkoxy )pyrrolidino and X thiomorpholino; X1 R and R when taken separately are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkanoyl R containing one to four carbon atoms, and CH B in which X, X and OR are as described above since wherein B is selected from the group consisting of these compounds are suitable for the preparation of hydrogen, lower alkyl, "and monosubstituted lower known andbiologically active tetracycline compounds,

alkyl, said substituent being selected from the i.e. where OR is-OH and, in addition, new and useful group consisting of hydroxy and lower alk'oxy; tetracycline compounds not previously described.

Froml toXVa is an aldol condensation with a glyoxalic acid derivative, generally a lower alkyl ester.'The reaction is catalyzed by acids or bases, e.g. preferably metal alkoxides. It is preferably conducted in an inert atmosphere, e.g. nitrogen, at a temperature of from about 80 120 C. for from one-quarter to about 24 hours using from about one-eighth to 2.0 moles metal ion/mole of triketone. The acid catalyzed condensation is conveniently carried out in glacial acetic acid as solvent. Non-hydroxylic solvents such as benzene, xylene, toluene, dioxane, dimethoxyethane, diethyleneglycoldimethylether and dimethylformamideare useful solvents for the'metal catalyzed condensation, especially when using metal alkoxides. Magnesium methoxide is especially useful in this condensation. Of course, when the unsaturation.

The conversion of XVa to XV is a Michael reaction with an amine I-INR R The reaction is conducted at a temperature of from about -70 C. to about C. preferably at about 20 C. An excess of the amine is employed; a sufficiently large excess frequently being used to serve both as solvent and as reactantfA variety of other solvents can be used and are actually necessary when the amine is a solid at the temperature of the reaction. Such solvents include tetrahydrofuran, ethylene glycol ethers, diethyleneglycol ethers and chloroform. The only criteria essential for the solvent are adequate solubility for the reactants, inertness and a sufficiently low freezing point.

The reaction is run for periods of from minutes to 24 hours depending upon the reactants and temperature employed. Oxygen should be excluded during the period when the. product is in contact with the excess amine. The order of addition of the reactants appears, in general, to be immaterial to the outcome of the reaction.

In some instances the ester group is transformed to the amide corresponding to the amine reactant. Primary lower alkylamines may also enter into further reaction involving the 3-keto group. This appears to be a transient or intermediate step in the reaction and, as long as the amine addition product is retained in solution, can be directly reduced to the 3-hydroxy amino acid ester (XVb). Isolation of. the amine addition product, however, produces what is believed to be a fused lactam possibly via formation of a hydroxy amine at the 3-position followed by elimination of alcohol between the ester and amine groups.

From XV to XVb is a selective reduction with a suitable chemical reducing agent, such as metal hydrides, especially sodium borohydride. The reaction is carried out by dissolving the amino acid ester reactant in a suitable reaction-inert solvent such as 1,2- dimethoxyethane, ethylene-glycol ethers, diethyleneglycol ethers and liquid amines. When hydroxylic solvents are employed, e.g. alcohols, an excess of sodium borohydride is used. Reaction periods of from about 10 minutes to about -3 hours are required. Of course, when active hydrogen is present in the reactants, one equivalent of sodium borohydride is required per active hydrogen in addition to that of the B- diketone-system.

Alternatively, the reduction is conducted by adding the sodium borohydride all at once to a vigorously.

stirred solution of the amino acid ester (XV) in one of the aforementioned solvents at C. followed by gradual increase in the temperature to 0 C. In this process, as above, 0.5 to 4.0 moles of reducing agent per mole of amino acid ester is used. A ratio of l is, however, preferred (except in cases where active hydrogen is present).

From XVa to XVb is a selective reduction with a suitable chemical, reducing agent, such as sodium borohydride, of the Mannich reaction product XV. It is represented as a one-step conversion since the Michael, reaction product need not be separated prior to reduction. Simultaneous formation of the corresponding lactone also occurs.

The lactone, of course, serves as a suitable reactant for the production of XVb by cleavage of the lactone ring under mild conditions. i I The formation of XIX from XVIII (R =I-I) is accomplished by formation of a mixed anhydride (Rf-CO X with a haloalkyl carbonate as described in the J. Am. Chem. Soc. 75, 636-9 (1953) and the J Org. Chem. 22, 248 (1957) Acylation of a malonic acid ester derivative, e.g., malonic diester, cyanoacetic ester, malonic ester half amide, including N-alkylated amides and especially the magnesium salt of ethyl tbutyl-malonamate etc., with the mixed anhydride produces the corresponding malonic acid derivative. Reaction is conducted in a suitable solvent system such as chloroform, toluene, benzene, diethylether, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, nitromethane, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, ethers of ethyleneglycol and diethyleneglycol at from about 5 to about 35 C. for periods ranging from 25 minutes to up to 3 days. When R is CO X the malonic acid derivative is employed as a magnesium enolate according to the procedure of Tarbell and Price (J. Org-Chem, Loc. cit.)

Where X is CONI-I-alkyl, e.g. t-butyl or isopropyl, carboxamido, treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid yields the corresponding unsubstituted carboxamide. The conversion of XIX to XVII is accomplished by standard base-catalyzed acylation using, for example, sodium alkoxides, sodamide or preferably sodium hydride. A ratio of at least 4 equivalents of base and desirably a great excess of up to 10 equivalents is employed. A variety of reaction-inert solvents can be used, e.g. benzene,'xylene, toluene, anisole, dimethylformamide. Dimethylformamide containing a small amount of methanol is the preferred solvent. Reaction is conducted under nitrogen at a temperature of from about to about 150 C. preferably C., for periods of from about 3 minutes to up to 24 hours depending upon the reactants. A period of 5-7 minutes is adequate, indeed preferred, in most instances. When Y CN, the l2-imido group which results is hydrolyzed with aqueous acid to the l2-keto group.

The compounds of structure XVI and XVII in which method described in US. Pat. No. 3,188,348, issued June 8, 1965, wherein is described-the hydroxylation of certain metal chelates of the l2a-deoxytetracyclines. The advantage of this latter process lies in the fact that the hydroxy group is introduced cisto the hydrogen at position 4a.

Compoundsof structure XVI and XVII in which X is a cyanov group are converted to corresponding carboxamido substituted compounds by the method described in US. Pat. No. 3,029,284, issued Apr. 10, 1962 wherein is described in conversion of tetracycline nitriles to the corresponding carboxamide by the Ritter Reaction followed by dealkylation of the resulting N-alkylatedcarboxamide with "concentrated mineral acid and water.

The diketo compound XVIII is obtained from the hydrochloride of XVb via the lactone by treatment with from about0.5 to about 2 equivalents of p-toluenesulfonic acid in a suitable reaction-inert solvent (benzene, toluene,'xy1ene) for periods of from about 5 hours to about 2 days.v A temperature of from about 80140 C. is satisfactory. The lactone hydrochloride of XVb is then treated with zinc dust-formic acid for a brief period to give XVIII wherein R is hydrogen. A ratio'of from 1 to equivalents of zinc dust is effective in cleaving thevlactone to the free acid; 6-7 equivalents are preferred. Formic acid is the solvent of choice. However,mix'tures of formic acid-methanol-water or of acetic acid-methanol-water,v in approximately 1:1:1 ratio, can also be used. A temperature of about C. is generally used, although this is not a critical level. To avoid reduction of the 4,10-keto system, it is important that mild reaction conditions and brief contact times be employed. Contact times of from about seconds to several hours depending upon the reactants, are operative. In general, however, periods of from 45 seconds to 120 seconds are favored. 1

Alternatively, conversion of XVb to the diketo com.- pound XVIII (X CH is accomplished by reaction withv acetoformic anhydride according to known procedures followed by removal of the 3formgloxy group by one of the following; treatment with zinc dust-formic acid or zincdust in aqueous ammonium hydroxide,

containing 5-10 percent of the metal are most effective for this purpose. Pd-C (l0percent is preferred. From about 0.l to 1 weight equivalent is used. Dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, water, ethanol and ethylacetate, preferably ethanol, serve as solvents. Pressures of from about 1 atmosphere to high pressures, e.g. 70 atmospheres or higher, and temperatures of from --2O to 60 C. or higher can be used. The

preferred conditions are atmospheric pressure and room temperature for periods of about 3 hours. Abase is-required to take up the hydrogen'chlorid'e produced.

used include the acetyl, propionyl and butyryl, as well as the benzoyl, succinyl, phthaloyl, and the like. The lower alkylblocking groups are preferred since these compounds are readily prepared.

When desired the above mentioned blocking groups, i.e., enol ether radicals, may be removed. The enol radicals are hydrolyzed by treatment with aqueous acid as is well known by those skilled in the art. When the ether radical is benzyl, hydrogenolysis over noble metal catalyst may also be used.

In compounds of formula XVII, for example, the

, compound wherein X, X are A arehydrogen; X is 10- calcium in liquid ammonia, or catalytichydrogenation methoxy','R and R are methyl and X is N-t-butylcarboxamido, the IO-methyl etherand the t-butyl group at the 2-position are conveniently removed in a single step t by treatment with 48 percent HBr for up to 15 minutes at about 100 C. If shorter periods of time, e.g. 5 minutes, are used only the 10 methyl ether may be cleaved. Alternatively, the protective methyl and tbutyl groups can be removed in stepwise fashion. Treatment with percent H SO' for l0-m ethyl ether of 6-demethyl-6,l2a-dideoxytetracycline. The l0 methyl group is then removed by treatment with 48 percent HBr, or with hot concentrated I-ICl, or hot 50 waxes, wherein transition metal ion contamination accelerates oxidative deterioration and color formation, biological experimentation, metal extraction. They are further useful in analysis of polyvalent metal ions which may be complexed or extracted by these materials and as metal carriers. Other uses common to sequestering agents are also apparent for these compounds.

In addition, the compounds of Flow Sheet I are espe cially valuable as intermediates in chemical synthesis 9 particularly in the synthesis of -deoxytetracycline 6- deoxy-6-demethyltetracycline and other novel antimicrobial agents bearing structural similarities to the tetracycline antibiotics. Many of the herein described compounds, especially those containing one or more hydroxy groups in the benzenoid moiety, are useful as antibacterial agents in their own wright.

In the present new process, particularly as applied to the synthesis of biologically active tetracyclines, it is preferred to employ intermediates in which the hydrogen atoms at the 9a and 2-positions of the anthracene ring (corresponding to the 4a and 5a-positions of the tetracycline-nucleus) are in the cis arrangement. For example, preferred compounds are depicted .6... o 7 V in which G is a substituent; other than hydrogen, as contrasted with anti compounds of the formula:

In general, syn and anti compounds are separable by virtue of differences in physical properties, eg. differences in solubility in various solvents. Usually, fractional crystallization permits ready separation.

It is a particular advantage of the novel triketo octahydroanthracenes of the present invention that, by virtue of the activating influence of the carbonyl oxygen, they-equilibrate to the predominately cis configuration in the course of preparation. This enables the synthesis to proceed in stereo-specific fashion without the loss of material that would otherwise be entailed in the separation of syn and anti compounds.

However, since in the production of compounds of this type, the product may consist of a mixture comprised of compounds differing in position of the anthracene nucleus, i.e. the hydrogen being both cis and trans to the hydrogen at position 9a, the mixture can be converted to the predominately cis arrangement by equilibration in aqueous alkali, e.g. by treatment with aqueous sodium hydroxide or under the influence of the amine in the Mannich reaction. The procedure merely involves dissolving the reaction product in aqueous base and allowing the mixture to stand for periods of several hours to ensure complete equilibration. In lieu of this procedure, equilibration is attained via the Michael reaction using extended reaction periods.

It is recognized by those in the art that, when such compounds have an asymmetric center in the substituent G, they .exist as-diastereoisomers which, as previously mentioned, may be separated by fractional crystallization for each of the syn and anti compounds. Of course, as is known, diastereoisomers are racemic modifications consisting oft-two structureswhich are mirror images (optical antipodes). The racemic modifications may be resolved according to standard procedures. In the present process it is preferred, however, to utilize the diastereoisomers of the syn compounds since changes in configuration may occur during the various procedural steps of the total synthesis to 1 The starting compounds of structure I are prepared according to the following procedure:

A. COR5 /where R =OH In the above formulas X, X X and A'are as previously described with the exception that substituent X is preferably not a nitro group since this group deactivates the ring of compounds of structure II in the ring closure reaction to those of structure Ill; (R is lower alkyl or benzyl) and R is hydroxyl, benzyloxy, lower alkoxy or halogen (Cl, F, Br, or I). Alternatively, the corresponding nitriles (e.g. where COR is replaced by CN) may be used. Further, at least one of the two positions of the benzenoid ring ortho to the diester side chain must be available for the ring closure of structure ll compounds. If desired, halogen, (Cl or Br) may be introduced into compounds of structure I, II, III and IV in which a chlorinating or brominating agent by methods generally employed for halogenation of an aromatic ring. A variety of such agents are known to those in the art and include phosphorus pentachloride and pentabromide, sulfuryl chloride, N-chloro or bromo-alkanoamides, e.g. N-chlorandN-bromacetamide; N- chloro (or-bromo) alkanedioic acid imides, e.g. N- halosuccinimide; N-halophthalimide; vchlorine; bromine; N-haloacylanilides, e.g. N-bromoacetanilide, propionanilide and the like; 3-chloro-, 3-bromo, 3,5- dichloro and 3,5-dibromo-5,S-dimethylhydantoin;

' formula:

inwhich X, X andA are asdescribed above, since these compounds are suitable for, the preparation of biologicallyactive tetracycline compounds, i.e.-where OR is'OI-I, and homologs and analogs thereof.

These compounds are .prepared from the corresponding starting compounds of structure II represented by structure IID.

I com II'D through the sequences represented by II III IV I. In the ring closure reaction of corresponding structure II compounds, it is preferred that the benzenoid substituent (X para to substituent OR be other than hydrogen to enable the ring closure reaction to proceed in the position ortho to substituent OR to afford corresponding structure Illcompounds. If there is no substituent para to ORa halogeh group may be introduced by direct halogenation by conventional methods as hereinbefore described. The-para halogen su'bstituent may be removed, if desired, by hydrogenolysis, under the usual conditions, of the tetralone resulting from the ring closure. I g

The ring closure of compounds II to III is accomplished by. any of the commonly employed methods for such reactions'which' generally involve the use of a dehydrating or dehydrohalogenating cyclization agent. With compounds of structure II, a preferred method when R isOH or alkoxy, involves treatment of the starting compound with such'ring closure agents as hydrogen fluoride or polyphosphoric acid. When R in the starting compound is hydroxyl, it is usually preferred to use hydrogen fluoride; when R is lower alkoxy, polyphosphoric acid, When R is halogen a Friedel-Crafts catalyst, of course, should be employed, e.g. aluminum chloride. m-l-lydroxyor alkoxy-benzyl compounds of structure II having CN in place of COR lend themselves to the Hoesch synthesis (Berichte, 48, 1122 and 50, 462) wherein treatment with dry hydrogen chloride in the presence of zinc chloride leads to'imine formation, and hydrolysis of the latter provides the tetralone keto group.

The condensation of. compounds II or III in which R is OR with oxalic ester as well as ring closure of compounds IIIa (after esterification of the free acidwith R Ol-I) are effected by the ,general methods for ester condensation reactions of this type. Usually the reaction is carried out in the presence of a strong base such as alkali metal, alkali metal alkoxides and hydrides,

sodamide and the like. If the starting compound in the oxalate condensation contains free hydroxyl, or amino groups it is preferred to block such groups by alkylation 5 or acylation to known procedures. After the reaction is completed, the blocking groups may be removed, if desired. The resulting product from structure I], i.e. the corresponding 2-carbalkoxy or carbobenzyloxy compound of structure IV, on hydrolysisand decarboxylation yields compounds of structure I; structure IV compounds are first ring closed, e.g. with polyphosphoric acid and then hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to those .of structure I. Cleavage of the ether linkage, or other blocking groups by any of the general methods, e.g. treatment with mineral acid such as concentrated hydrobromic or hydriodic acid, or when R is benzyl, hydrogenolysis, gives free hydroxy groups in the benzenoid portion.

The starting compounds of the above described processes, i.e. compounds of structure II, are prepared by the following sequence of reactions:

lnthe above sequence, R and R are lower alkyl or benzyl; and Bis hydrogen or hydroxy. Further, in this sequence a lower alkyl group can be present in the starting diether at the 4-position of the aromatic ring, if desired, to produce 3-be'nzyl-4-(lower alkyl) substituted adipic acid derivatives (II).

FLOW SHEET II The first of these reactions for the preparation of compounds of structure VII is by means of Friedel- Crafts reaction, e.g. MC]; in carbon disulfide. The conversion of compounds of structure VII to those of VIII in which A and B are hydrogen is by catalytic reduction, e.g. over copper chromium oxide or noble metal, e.g. palladium, catalyst at from atmosphere to superatmospheric pressures of hydrogen gas;'where A is alkyl and B hydroxyl, by reaction with a suitable hydrolysis, e.g. concentrated hydrobromic acid.

From [X to X'is an ozonolysis reaction giving rise to the 'dienedioic acid which on hydrogenation over a noble metal catalyst, ejg. palladium, palladium on car- :bon, platinum, platinum oxide, etc., gives compounds of structure II. In the ozonolysis reactions to form compounds of structure X it is not possible to employ as starting compounds those of structure IX in which there are adjacent hydroxyl groups in the benzene ring containing X, X, and X as substituents, since such structures are susceptible to the oxidation reaction.

Further, in the ozonolysis reaction compounds of structure IX in which X, X and X, are adjacent ether groups or adjacent ether and hydroxy groups cannot be used since they, too, are susceptible of oxidation. The ozonolysis reaction is applicable to compounds of structure VIII, subject of course to the above limitation, wherein OR represents an ether group. In such cases the ester (X) is obtained. In the hydrogenation reaction, compounds of structure X may be used as the free acids or corresponding benzyl or lower alkyl esters to provide corresponding products of structure II. Of course, benzyl esters may undergo hydrogenolysis to the free acid.

In addition, appropriate methods are available for reduction of the benzoyl keto group to a secondary alcohol. For example, 11a and VII can be reduced with sodium borohydride, or by hydrogenation with palladium catalyst in non-acidic media; By other well-known replacement procedures such as the following, the secondary alcohol may be" converted to a readily replaceable. sulfonic ester group, e.g. the tosylate, mesylate, etc., followed by reaction with an alkali metal cyanide, an amine, a malonic ester, or the like, thus affording means for introduction of a c yano, amino or CI-I(CO B group in the 6-pdsition of the. final tetracycline. The secondary alcohol can also be dehydrated and the resulting unsaturatedcompound reduced to the corresponding benzyl derivative. y

In this sequence of reactions, when X and/or X are halogen, care should be taken to avoid prolonged hydrogenations which may result in the removal of the halogen atom. The possibility of halogen removal maybe minimized by the use of a lower alkanoic acid, eg acetic or propionic as solvent for the reaction. Of course, if removed, halogen may be reintroduced if desired by the method hereinbefore described.

In those compounds of structure IX in which there are adjacent hydroxy groups in the benzenoid moiety,

such groups must be protected by suitable blocking groups, e.g. etherified with lower alkyl or benzyl groups. Similarly, free amino groups may be acylated. Of course, the etherifying radical of the hydroxy group may differ from that represented by R. If the etherifying radical is benzylit may subsequently be removed by hydrogenolysis'. Alternatively, all ether removed by hydrogen iodide treatment.

As will be appreciated from the preceding reaction sequence, it is most convenient to introduce the benzenoid substituents, X, X and "X by employing the appropriately substituted benzoic acid derivative as startgroups can be ysis. Therefore, where halo groups are desired in the final product, these are best introduced subsequent to the hydrogenation by an appropriate substitution reaction.

In commencing the sequence with a substitutedbenzoyl succinate, it is essential that an ortho ring position be unsubstituted, since cyclization .to form the center ring-of the hydroanthracene occurs at this position. For the preparation of the preferred compounds of structure I, which bear an OR substituent in the 5 position, the position of the benzene ring between the OR group and the 'keto group in the starting benzoyl succinate should be unsubstituted, to provide for the subsequent ring closure. 'On the other hand, it is preferred to have a substituent in what corresponds to the 8-position of compound I, since this precludes cyclization to that position in competition with the C OgR Xi-- 002R: X

' XIV O,

XIII Flow Sheet III The conversion of compounds of formula X] to those of XII is a Claisen-type condensationof the lower alkyl ester of XI with succinic acid diesters to provide form ula XII compounds. The conversion of compounds of formula Xl to=XlIIissimilarly a Claisen condensation 5 using acetic acid esters. The conversion of compounds of formula XIII to XII is by alkylation reaction with a monohaloacetic acid ester, afidthe conversion of XIV to 11a is .such an alkylation followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation. The preparation of compounds of formula XIV from those'of formula XIII is by standard alkylation procedures preferably using H C=CHCO R, or corresponding nitriles. This conversion may also be effected by, alkylation with a B-halo acid derivative halogen--CH CI-I CO R or the corresponding nitrile. l

Each of these reactions are effected under standard conditions known to those skilled in the art,.e.g.in a

reaction-inert solvent in the presence of a base such as acrylic acid esters of the formula H,C=CHCO R in, 2

which A and R are as previously described under the conditions of the Michael reaction. It may also be effected by alkylation with B-halo'alkanoic acids of the formula HalogenCl-l CH CO R or of the corresponding nitriles. Hydrolysis and decarboxylation of these compounds gives strucfure Ila compounds. The conversion of structure [In compounds to those of structure ll is'brought about by reactions as previously described for preparing" structure VIII compounds.

The present invention additionally is adaptable for the preparation of other tetracycline molecules, as follows.

For compounds in which substituent X is nitro, the

tetralone of structure III is nitrated" by standard procedures, e.g. such as nitric-acetic anhydride'. acetic acid m'ixturesor nitric acid sulfuric acid mixtures. Those: in which'X is halogen, cyano, nitro or other such groups are prepared'by a Sandmeyer reaction of the corresponding diazoniumsalt with suitable salt reagents (Cu Cl Cu Br KI, etc.) The diazonium salt is obtained by diazotization of the amino compound, prepared fromcompbunds of structure II in which X is amino or produced by the reduction of the corresponding nitro compound by conventional means,

e.g. chemical means, such as, active metals (Sn) and mineral acids. HCl or by catalytic hydrogenation, e.g. nickel catalyst and superatmospheric pressure.

The amino group may als o be introduced into the benzenoid ring by coupling of aryldiazonium salts, e.g. benzene dia zonium chloride or the diazonium salt of pa'minobenzenesulfonic acid, with compounds of structure II or III containing a free hydroxy substituent in the 5-position of i the 4-tetralone ring-(3-position of the benzene ring) followed by reduction of the resulting, phenylazocompound, e.g. catalytic reduction over noble metal catalysts. An amino group may also be introduced .in place of the keto carbonyl oxygen of compounds of structure VII and XIV by-reduction of the corresponding oxime or hydfazone, by reductive ammonolysis of the keto carbonyl group over noble metal catalysts or by reduction of the keto group to a secon- 1 l6 dary hydroxy group by sodium borohydride followed by conversion to the tosylate and replacement of the tosylate group by an amino group.

A further modification of the present invention provides a means of introducing a variety of substituents in positions corresponding to the 5a, and 6-positions of the tetracycline nucleus. This involves formation of the secondary alcohol corresponding to structure IIA compounds represented by the formula:

IIb

by partial reduction of the corresponding ketone over palladium catalyst at superatmospheric pressure until only one molar equivalent of hydrogen is taken up.-

Compounds of structure IIb are also intermediates for the preparation of 6-demethyltetracyclines.

The benzoyl ketogroup of compounds of structure Ila may be subjected to the Wittig reaction as described in Angewandte Chemie 7 l 260-273 (1959) to produce the alkylidene derivatives lIc by treatment withthe ylid prepared from a chloroether of the formula (B )CHCIOB (where B is lower alkyl and B is hydrogen or lower alkyl.) The necessary chloroethers are' obtained by standard treatment of aldehyde acetals of the formula (B )CH(OB with an acid chloride (J.Org. Chem. 23 l 1936).

Treatment of compounds Ila-in this fashion with the ylid from chloromethyl ether, for example, converts the keto group to a methoxy-methylene group, which may be reduced to methoxymethyl. The latter group may be carried through the subsequent steps herein described to the 6-methoxymethyl tetracycline. At this point the elements of methanol may be split out by standard procedures to obtain the 6-methylene-6-deoxy-6- demethyltetracycline. I

The products of the above reaction may, in turn, be hydrogenated with, noble metal catalystsz' B 0C B B OCH(B 2 a) /CO2R1 z a 0 02R! cyclines having a 6-CI'I(B )OB group converts this group to CH(B )OH with concurrent hydrolysis of any ether groups in the aromatic D-ring.

The products of the'Wittig reaction IlC may also be hydrolyzed to aldehydes and the resulting aldehyde group in turn converted by catalytic hydrogenation to a hydroxymethyl group. The latter may be carried through the subsequent reactions of synthetic sequence with its free hydroxy] group, or preferably, in the form of a lower alkyl ether.

a The described procedures are adaptable to the preparation of a variety of tetracycline molecules, as follows:

For introduction of aromatic nitro groups, the given compound, e.g. tetralone III, is nitrated by standard procedures, such as treatment with nitric acid-acetic anhydride-ace'tic acid mixtures, or nitric-sulfuric acid mixtures. Those in which X is halogen, cyano, halo sulfonyl nitro or other such groups may be prepared by Sandmeyer reaction of the corresponding diazonium salt with suitable salt reagents (Cu Cl Cu Br etc.). The diazonium salt is obtained by diazotization of the amino compound,- which may in turn be prepared by reduction of the corresponding nitro compound by conventional means, e.g. chemical reduction with active metals (Sn) and mineral acids HCl or catalytic hydrogenation, e.g. with nickel catalyst at superatmospheric pressure. Aromatic cyano groups maybe further converted to carboxy or carbalkoxy groups where desired by standard hydrolysis and esterification.

The amino group may also be introduced into the benzenoid ring, e.g. in compounds of structure ll having a phenolic hydroxyl group, by coupling with aryldiazonium salts such as benzene diazonium chloride or the diazonium salt of p-aminobenzenesulfonic acid, followed by reduction of the resulting phenylazo compound, e.g. by catalytic hydrogenolysis with noble metal catalysts.

As has been previously pointed out, normal discretion must be employed in subjectingcertain of the substituted intermediates to the herein described reaction steps. In the base condensation reactions, the presence of a substituent having an active hydrogen (e.g. a hydroxy], or amino group) will necessitate the use of an additional mole of thesodium hydride or other base. The presence of morethan one such substituent per molecule is preferably avoided in these reactions, e.g. by the use of protective ether groups as previously described. The same considerations apply to Grignard reactions and hydride reductions. Hydroxyl groups can be subsequently regenerated from their ethers by conventional hydrolytic procedures such as treatment with hydrogen bromide. Similarly, protective benzyl ether groups can subsequently be hydrogenolyzed to obtain hydroxyl groups where desired.

In the reduction of benzoyl adipate Ila or benzo'phenone VII to the corresponding benzyl derivatives II and VIII, chemical reduction with amalgamated zinc and HCl by the well-known Clemmensen procedure may be employed in place of catalytic hydrogenolysis. Any ester groups which may be present in the molecule are concurrently hydrolyzed in the Clemmensen procedure, and reesterification will therefore be necessary.

Alternative routes or procedures can be used in place of the Clemmensen reduction. Thus, in the reduction of benzoyl adipate Ila to corresponding benzyl derivative II, the three-step procedure previously referred to is an appropriate alternative to direct reduction; i.e. (1) conversion of the keto group to hydroxyl, e.g. with sodium borohydride or by mild reduction at room temperature with palladium on carbon in alcohol or other neutral solvent; (2) conversion of the resulting alcohol to the unsaturated compound by dehydration in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride; and (3) rapid hydrogenation of the resulting double bond, e.g. with palladium at room temperature and moderate hydrogen pressure, until one mole of hydrogen has been consumed. Another alternative reduction procedure which is suitable is the Wolf-Kishner reaction (Annalen, 394, 90, 1912 and J. Russ. Phys. Chem. Soc. 43, 582, 1911) wherein the benzoyl derivative is converted to a hydrazone, and the latter is in turn reduced to thecorresponding benzyl derivative by heating with a base such as sodium ethoxide. I

The present inventionprovides ameans of synthesizing tetracyclinecompounds 8-substituted and other valuable new tetracyclines, not previously described, which are therapeutically usefulby virtue of their antimicrobial activity.

- Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following examples provide a basis for preparing the listed tetracyclines and the corresponding l2a-deoxy deriva tives thereof.

Of particular significance in accordance'with this invention are those 8-position. tetracycline products (XVI and XVII) wherein a hydroxy group or a group readily convertible to a hydroxy group (alkoxy or alkanoyloxy) is present at the 8-position. An additional substituent of importance in accordance with this invention is the trifluoromethyl group when present at the 7- and or 8-positions of the final tetracyclines.

Some of the new tetracyclines of the present invention are homologs, isomers or closely related analogs of known tetracyclines. Many of the new tetracyclines are distinguished from prior art compounds by their possession of important and desirable properties, such as extended in vitro and in vivo antibacterial spectra, activity against organisms which have inherent or acquired resistance to known antibiotics, rapid absorption, sustained blood levels, freedom from serum binding, preferential tissue distribution at various parts of the body (e.g. kidney, lung, bladder, skin, etc.) which are sites for infection, sustained stability in a variety of dosage forms, resistance to metabolic destruction, broad solubility, and freedom from objectionable acute and cumulative side-effects. The new tetracyclines are useful in therapy, in agriculture, and in veterinary practice both therapeutically and as growth stimulants. In addition, they may be employed as disinfectants and bacteriostatic agents, in industrial fermentations to prevent contamination by sensitive organisms, and in tissue culture, e. g. for vaccine production. 7

The various new tetracyclines of the present invention which do not share the antibacterial activity of the known tetracyclines are valuable intermediates in the preparation of other compounds of classes known to contain biologically active members. Thus, the D-ring can be nitrated directly and the nitro derivative reduced catalytically to an aminotetracycline. Further, the tetracycline products of this invention can be halogenated by known methods at the lla-, or in the case of a 7-unsubstituted. tetracycline, in the 7,l1apositions by treatment with such halogenating agents as .perchloryl fluoride, N-chlorsuccinimide, N-bromsuccinimide and iodobromide. I

, The present invention embraces all salts, including acid-addition and metal salts, of the new antibiotics. Such salts are formed by well known procedures with both pharmaceutically acceptable and .pharmaceuti-' cally unacceptable acids and metals. By pharmaceutically acceptable is meant those salt-forming acids and metals whichdo not substantially, increase the toxicity of the antibiotic.

The pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts are of particular'value in therapy. These include salts of mineral acids such as hydrochloric, hydriodic, hydrobromic, phosphoric, metaphosphoric, nitric and sulfuric acids, as well as salts of organic acids such as tartaric, acetic, citric, malic, benzoic, glycollic,.gluconic, gulonic, succinic, arylsulfonic, e.g. p-toluene sulfonic acids, and the like. The pharmaceutically unacceptable acid addition salts, while not useful for therapy, are valuable for isolation and purification of the new substances. Further, they are useful for the preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Of this group, the more common salts include those formed with hydrofluoric and perchloric acids. Hydrofluoride salts are particularly useful for the preparation of the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, e.g. the hydrochlorides, by solution in hydrochloric acid and crystallization of the hydrochloride salt formed. The perchloric acidsalts are useful for purificationand crystallization of the new products.

Whereas all metalsalts may be prepared and are useful for various purposes, the pharmaceutically acceptable metal salts are particularly valuable because of their utility in therapy. The pharmaceutically acceptable metals include morecommonly sodium,.potassium and alkaline earth metals'of atomic number up to and including 20, i.e., magnesium and calcium and additionally, aluminum, zinc, iron and manganese, among. others. Of course, the metal salts include complex salts, i.e. metal chelates which are well recognizedinthe tetracycline art. The pharmaceutically unacceptable metal salts embrace most commonly salts of lithium and of alkaline earth metals of atomic number greater than 20,'i.e., barium and strontium, which are useful for isolating and purifying thecompounds.

and benzophenone starting compounds, have been described in the literature.

The following examples are given by way of illustration.

EXAMPLE I Monoethyl Ester v of 3- (3-methoxybenzyl)Adipic METHOD A Five grams of diethyl 3-,(3 methoxybenzoyl)adipate and 2 g. of 5 percent palladium on carbon in 30 ml. of acetic acid are treated in a conventional Parr shaker at a pressure of 40 psi of hydrogen gas at C. until 2 moles of hydrogen are taken up. The firstmole of gas is taken up rapidly and the second more slowly over a total reactiontime of up to about 30 hours. The mixture is filtered, concentrated under reduced pressure to an oilwhichisvacuum-distilled to obtain the product.

- METHODB The 'y-lactone of the enol form of the monoethyl ester of the starting compound is hydrogenated over palladium on carbon by this same method to obtain this product, b.pt. l90-l C. (0.3 mm.). Elemental analysis gives the following results:

Calcd. for: C H2205: C, H,

Found: C, 65.25; H, 7.68. V The corresponding diethyl ester is prepared by refluxing this product in ethylene dichloride containing ethanol and sulfuric acid. The'diester is obtained by It will be obvious that, in addition to their value in therapy, the pharmaceutically acceptable acid and metal salts are also useful in isolation and purification.

The new tricyclic intermediates of the present invention, in addition to their value in synthesis, exhibit valuable antimicrobial activity. They may beemployed as bacteriostatic agents, and are further useful in separation and classification of organisms for medical and diagnostic purposes. These new intermediates, by virtue of their B-diketone structure, are also valuable chelating, complexing or sequestering agents, and form particularly stable and soluble complexes with polyvalent cations. They are therefore useful wherever removal of such polyvalent ions is desired, e.g., in biological experimentation and in analytical procedures. Of course, as is well known to those skilled in the art, such B'diketones may exist in one or more of diluting the reaction mixture with 'water, separating, drying and concentrating the ethylene dichloride layer, and vacuum-distilling theresidual oil,. n 1.4973. Elemental analysis gives the following results: Calcd. for: C I-1 0 C, 67.06; H, 8.13

Found: C,'67.02;.H, 8.31.. I w The starting compound together, with (the corresponding'y-lactone are prepared by hydrolysis and decarboxylation of diethyl I 3-carbo-t.butoxy-3-(3- methoxybenzoyDadipate (Example XLV) by refluxing in dry xylene containing p toluenesulfonic acid. The products are separated by fractional distillation or may be used together as starting compound for this hydrogenation reaction."

EXAMPLE i1 3-( -lyl ethoxybenzyl)Adipic Acid Y 'METl-IODA Amalgamated zinc is prepared by shaking for 5 minutes a mixture of 120 g. of mossy zinc, 12 g. of mercuric chloride, 200 ml. of water and 5 ml. of concentrated HCl in a round-bottomed flask. The solution is decanted and the following reagents added: ml. of water and 175 ml. of concentrated. HCl ml. of toluene and 52 g. of 3-( 3-methoxybenzoyl)adipic acid. The reaction mixture is vigorously boiled under reflux for 24 hours.,Three 50 ml. portions of concentrated HCl-are added at intervals of 6 hours reflux.

After cooling to room temperature, the layers are separated, the aqueous layer diluted with 200 ml. of

combined with the toluene layer, dried and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain the product.

- METHODB A solution of 6254.4 grams (22.1 mole) 3-(3- methoxybenzoyl)-adipic acid in 38.5 liters of glacial acetic acid is hydrogenated in a 15 gal. stirred autoclave in the presence of 2.5 Kg 5 percent palladiumon-carbon catalyst at 1,000 psig and 50 C. until the theoretical amount of hydrogen has been absorbed. The catalyst is filtered off and the solvent removed from the filtrate by distillation at reduced pressure. This gives 5,432 grams of product in the form of an oil. lt is further purified by conversion to the dimethyl ester, fractional distillation, and hydrolysis, as follows:

A, solution of 5,432 grams (20.4 mole) of the crude 3-(3-methoxybenzyl) adipic acid, 3,410 grams (106.6 mole) methanol, 10.6 liters ethylenedichloride and 106 ml. concentrated sulfuric acid is stirred and refluxed for 15 hours. The mixture is cooled and washed with water (3 X 5 1.), 5 percent aqueous sodium hydroxide (l X 2 l.) and again with water (3 X 5 1.). The ethylenedichloride solution is dried over 3 lb. anhydrous magnesium sulfate (with 2 lb. Darco G60 activated carbon). The drying agent and carbon are filtered off and the filtrate concentrated at reduced pressure to remove solvent. The residue is distilled through a 3 X 16 inches vacuum-jacketed fractionating column packed with porcelain saddles. After a forerun of 934.1 grams, the product is collected at l72.0C/0.2 mm to 183C/O.35' mm. This amounts to 3,076.6 g. of 95 percent pure ester.

The ester, 2,943.4 grams (10,00 mole) is hydrolyzed by heating-over a steam bath for 19 hours with 1 Kg. (25.0 mole) sodium hydroxide in 6 liters of water. The hydrolysis mixture is acidified to pH ca. 1.0 by addition of concentrated hydrochloric acid and the product is extracted into methylene chloride (1 X 41. and 2 X 2 1.). The methylene chloride extract is washed with water 1 X 4 1.= 1 X 8 1.), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and freed of solvent by distillation at reduced pressure. This gives 2,506 grams of 3'-(3-methoxybenzyl)adipic acid in the form of a very sticky oil.

METHOD i 22. EXAMPLE m Dimethyl 3-( 2-chloro-5-methoxybenzyl)adipate METHOD A A mixture of 3.2 g. of dimethyl 3-(3-methoxybenzyl)adipate and 1.4 g. of N-chlorosuccinimide in 30 ml. of trifluoracetic acidis stirred and heated on a steam bath for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture is then poured into percent aqueous sodium bicarbonate with stirring, and the mixture extracted with ether. The combined extracts are dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and then concentrated under reduced pressure p to an oil which is vacuum-distilled to obtain the product, b.p. 200 C. 1.1 mm Hg). METHOD B A mixture of 3.2 g. of dimethyl 3-(3-methoxybenzyl)adipate and 2.1 g. of phosphorus pentachloride in 100 ml. of dry benzene is refluxed for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture is carefully poured into ice and water, the benzene layer separated, washed with water and dried. Concentration of the dried benzene solution under reduced pressure yields an oil which is vacuum-distilled to obtain the product.

Similarly, the diethyl, dibenzyl and dipropyl chloroesters are prepared. I

METHOD C A solution of 1,688 g. of 3-(3-methoxybenzy1(adipic acid and 50 mg. of iodine in 9 liters of glacial acetic acid is stirred while a solution of 450 g. of chlorine in 8 liters of glacial acetic acid is added during about 2 hours. The mixture is kept in the dark during the procedure and the temperature maintained at 1014 C. The solvent is thenremoved by concentration dimethoxyethane ata temperature of about 10 C. is

treated with a solution of sodium borohydride (0.005

mole) in ml. of 1,2-dimethoxyethane and 10 m1. of water. After 15 minutes, 5 ml. of glacial acetic acid is added and the mixture stirred for 5 minutes. Hydrochloric acid (3 ml. of 6N) is then added, the mix-. ture stirred for an additional 0.5 hour, then poured into water. The product, 3-[a-hydroxy-( 3-methoxybenzyl)]acid dimethyl'estenis recovered by evaporation.

The hydroxy ester is placed in 150 ml. of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and allowed to stand overnight. The hydrogen fluoride is then evaporated and the thus produced dimethyl 3-(3-methoxy benzylidene)adipate dissolved in dioxane (300 ml.), treated with 0.3 g. of palladium on charcoal (5 percent) and subjected to psi at room temperature until an equimolar proportion of hydrogen is consumed. The mixture is filtered and the filtrate evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to give the desired compound as the methyl ester. It is hydrolyzed to the acid by the procedure of Method B.

The procedure of Method B is repeated using as starting compound the corresponding dicarboxylic acid to obtain 3-(2-chloro-5-methoxybenzyl)adipic acid dichloride.

EXAMPLE IV Diethyl 3-( 2-chloro-5-methoxybenzyl)adipate This product is obtained by the procedure of Method A of Example 111 employing diethyl 3-(3-ethoxybenzyl)adipate in lieu of dimethyl 3-(3-methoxybenzgl)adipate.

EXAMPLE V 2-(2-Carbethoxyethyl)-5-methoxy-8-chloro-4- tetralone 7 METHOD A A mixture of 2 g. of diethyl-3-(2-5-methoxybenzyl)adipate (Example 111) and 30 g. of polyphosphoric acid is heated on a steam bath for 30 minutes and t hen poured into ice wate r. The oil then separates and is collected. HUNT METHOD B v Amixtureof 2.0 g. of the di-acid chloride of 3-(2- chloro-S-methoxybenzy1)-adipic acid in 30 ml. of carbon disulfide in cooled to C. and 4 g. of aluminum chloride added portionwise to the cooled mixture. The

mixture is stirred for 30 minutes and then allowed to warm to roomtemperature-where a vigorous reaction.

ensures. After the vigorous reaction subsides the mixture is warmed on a steam bath, cooled, diluted'with water and the carbon disulfide steam distilled. The mixture is extracted.withchloroform and the product ob-' tained by drying and concentrating the chloroform extract. The product is the free acid which, if desired, is converted to the desired lower alkyl ester by conventional methods. For example,, the methyl ester is prepared as follows: I

A mixture of 2,002 g. (7.1 moles) of the tetralone acid, 3 l. chloroform, 682 g. (21.3 mole) methanol and 21.2.ml. conc. sulfuric acid is refluxed with stirring on a steam bath for 20 hours. The reaction mixture is then chilled and 2 1. each of chloroform and water are added. The organic phase is separated and washed successively with 2 X 21. water, 1 X l l. 2 percent aqueous sodium hydroxide and .3 X 4 1. water to a final pH of about 7.5. After drying over anhydrous sodium'sulfate and treatment with Darco KB activated carbon the solutionis filtered and concentrated to a dark oil at reduced pressure... The oil istaken up in 6. 1. hot ethyl acetate and l l l. hexane added. The solution is chilled to -5 C. with stirring and 1,404 g. 2-(2-carbomethoxyethyl)-5-methoxy-8-chloro 4-tetralone recovered by filtration, hexane-washing and air-drying. The product melts at l.0- -l02.4 C.

EXAMPLE v1 2-( 2-Carboxyethy1)-5 methoxy-8chloro-4-tetralone A polyethylene container is charged with 1,809 g. (6.03 mole) 3-(2-chloro-5-methoxybenzyl)adipic acid and chilled in an ice bath while 7 kg. liquid hydrogen .fluoride is introduced from an inverted, chilled tank.

tracted into chloroform, washed'with water and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the drying agentby filtration and the solvent by distillation gives a gum that istriturated with ether and filtered. This gives 1,031 g. of crude product that is recrystallized from a mixture of 16 1. ethanol, 2 l. acetone and 1 l. ethylene dichloride, with activated carbon treatment. The first two crops amountto 863.9 grams of white crystalline productmelting at 175 .0 l80.5 C. Elemental analysis, gives the following results:

Calcd. for: C, H,,0,Cl: C, 59.47; H, 5.35; C], 12.54

Found: C, 59.51; H, 5.42;Cl, 12.60 Ultraviolet absorption shows A max at 223 my. (6

. 24,650), 255 mp. (e 7,900) and 326 mu (6 4,510).

Infrared absorption maxima appear at 5.76 and 5.99 n.

This product is also obtained by hydrolysis of the product of Method A, Example V, by treatment with HCl in acetic acid.

The methyl ester, ethyl ester (m. 5759 C.) and benzyl ester (m 8485 C.) are preparedby conventional methods.

I 3-(3-Methoxybenzyl)adipic.acid, treated with HF as described, yields 2-(2-carboxyethy1)-7-methoxy-4- tetralone, which melts at 1589- C. after two recrystal-- lizations from benzene-hexane and exhibits ultraviolet absorption maxima at 225 mp. (e 13,500) and 276 my. (5 l6,000).in methanolic I-ICl and NaOH. Analysis,

Calcd. for: C H 0 C, 67,73; H, 6.50%

' Found: C, 67.67;.H, 6.48%-

EXAMPLE VII solubility. 2,900 g. of the crude tetralone are leached six times with 8 liter portions of hot chloroform. 170 gof white solid remain, melting at 236-239 C. The methyl ester is prepared by the procedure of Example V, Method B.

EXAMPLE VIII 2-( Z-Carbomethoxy'ethyl)-5-benzyloxy-8 ,chloro-4- tetralone 2-(2 carboxyethyl)-5-methoxy-8-chloro-4-tetralone (25 g.), glacial acetic acid (200 ml.) and 48% hydrobromic acid (50m1.) are heated at under nitrogen for 24 hours. The cooled solution deposits a crystalline solid. The mixture is poured over two parts ice and the total solid crop isolated by filtration and thoroughly washed with water. The crude'2-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-hydroxy-8-chloro-4-tetralone obtained in this way is recrystallized from acetonitrile to obtain 18.8 g. melting at 164-8 C. Elemental analysis,

Calcd. for: C, H ClO C, 58.11.; H,4.88; Cl, l3.20%

Found: C, 57.99; H, 4.87; Cl, 12.73%

14.5 g. of this product is placed in 200 ml. dry

methanol and the mixture refluxed for 30 minutes as anhydrous HCl is passed through. The now clear yellow solution is allowed to stand overnight, and the methanol is then removedin vacuo. The residual gum is extracted exhaustively with hexane and the combined extractsare concentrated and-cooled. 11.8 g. of the white, crystalline methyl ester separates and is filtered off and recrystallized from hexane.The ester melts at 6869.5 C. and analyzes as follows: Calcd. for C H CIO,: C, 59.45; H, 5.35; CI, 12.6%

Found: C, 59.16; H, 5.38; CI, 12.6% 5.6 g. (0.02 mole) of this substance is dissolved in 500 m1. anhydrou methanol and to this is added 0.02

and filtered. The filtrate is concentrated at reduced pressure and the residual oil chromatographed on acetone-washed anddried silicic acid in chloroform.

The first effluent fraction consists of unchanged starting material. The main fraction, recognized by a negative ferric chloride test, deposits crystalline 2-(2-carbomethoxy ethyl)-5-benzyloxy-8-chloro-4-tetralone on standing.

EXAMPLE 1x .two liter flask which has been flushed with dry nitrogen. The solution is colled to 20 C. and to it is added all at one time 0.4 mole sodium hydride in the form of a 50 percent oil dispersion which has been exposed to the atmosphere for 24 hours in order to produce a deactivating coating. The reaction mixture is maintained at 20-25 C. with an ice bath. 0.1 mole dry methanol is now added, and the temperature rises spontaneously to 4050 C. When the temperature begins to fall (about 5 minutes after addition of the methanol) the reaction vessel is removed from the ice bath and quickly placed in an oil bath at 110 C. The reaction temperature is brought with dispatch to 90 C. and maintained there for minutes, or until active bubbling ceases if this occurs sooner.

The flask is now immediately transferred back tothe ice bath, and when the temperature reaches C., 100 ml. of glacial acetic acid is added at such a rate that the temperature does not exceed 30 C. At this point, a golden yellow precipitate appears. 150 ml. methanol and 50 ml. water are added and the mixture is digested at 45 C. for 15' minutes and then stirred in an ice bath for an hour. If only a scanty. crop of crystals is present at this time the mixture may be stored in the refrigerator overnight before proceeding. It is now transferred to a separatory funnel to permit separation of the oil from the sodium hydride oil dispersion. The suspension is then filtered with suction, and the filter cake triturated three times with 100 ml. portions of hot hexane to extract impurities. The washed solid is next stirred with 200 ml. water, filtered, and then digested with 500 m1. refluxing methanol forminutes, to effect further purification. 15-16 grams of bright yellow needles are obtained. Theproduct melts at 200-205 C. and exhibits no carbonyl absorption below 6 1.. In 0.01 N methanolic HCl it exhibits ultraviolet absorption maxima at 406 my. (6 14,200) and at 275-290 mu (5 5,940). In

0.01 N methanolic NaOl-l it exhibits maxima at 423 my. (e=l 3,950) and at 340 mp. (e= 7,120).

EXAMPLE X 2-Carbomethoxy-6-chloro-7-methoxy-3 ,4, 1 O-trioxo- 1,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,l0-octahydroanthracene 2-( 2-carbomethoxyethyl )-6-chloro-7-methoxy-4- tetralone, prepared in Example VII, 30 g., is dissolved in 24 g. dimethyl oxalate in 300 ml. dry distilled dimethyl formamide by warming. The solution is then cooled under nitrogen in an ice-salt bath and 19.86 g. sodium hydride (51.2 percent in oil) added all at once as the temperature is maintained below 20 C. The ice bath is removed and the temperature rises spontaneously to 30 C., whereupon the bath is replaced briefly to control the vigorous reaction. The reaction mixture is then heated to -80 C. for 5-8 minutes, cooled to below 0 C., and treated with 100 ml. acetic acid,

added at such rate that the mixture does not reach 25 C. The reaction mixture is now poured into four volumes of chloroform. The chloroform solution is washed with water, then with saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent is removed in vacuo, and the residue is treated with 350 ml. methanol. After standing for several hours at room temperature the slurry is filtered to obtain 12.5 g. yellow crystalline product, melting at 228231 C. with decomposition and gas. evolution. Recrystallization from chloroform-methanol raises the melting point to 235.6236.8 C. analysis,

Calcd. for: C, H, O Cl: C, 58.21; H, 4.31; C1, 10.1 1%

Found: C, 58.53; H, 4.43; Cl, 10.10%

EXAMPLE XI 2-Carbobenz yloxy-5 -methoxy-8-chloro-3 ,4,10-trioxo-l ,2,3 ,4,4a,9,9a, lO-octahydroanthracene 2-(2-Carboxyethyl)-5-methoxy-8-chloro-4- tetralone, 0.02 mole, is combined with 500 ml. anhydrous methanol and to this is added 0.02 mole sodium methoxide and 500 ml. benzene. The mixture is concentrated to dryness in vacuo at room temperature, then heated at 100 C. and 0.1 mm. for 10 minutes. The residue is maintained under high vacuum at roomtemperature for 16 hours, and the dry solid added to 50 ml. benzyl bromide together with sufficient dimethyl formamide to solubilize. The mixture is heated at 100 C. for-48 hours with stirring, then cooled and filtered. The filtrate is concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain the benzyl ester as residue. Purification is effected by washing of a chloroform solution with aqueous sodium bicarbonate.

This substance is dissolved together with 0.04 mole dibenzyl oxalate in 50 ml. dry, distilled dimethyl formamide. To this is added 0.08 mole sodium hydride in the form of a 50 percent oil dispersion, while maintaining the temperature at about 20-25 C. Benzyl alcohol, 0.02 mole, is added, and the mixture is heated to C. for 5 minutes, then cooled to 20 C. and slowly acidified with glacial acetic acid. The reaction mixture is next evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure and the residue is taken up in chloroform. The chloroform solution is washed with water, then with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, treated with activated carbon and filtered. The filtrate is evaporated at reduced pressure to obtain the product as residue. It is, purified by evaporation of the highly fluorescent, less polar eluate fraction from silicic acid chromatography in chloroform.

EXAMPLE XII 2-Carbomethoxy-5-Methoxy-8-chloro-3 ,4 ,10-trioxol ,2,3,4,4a,9,9a,10-octahydroanthracene Clean sodium metal (3.68 g.) is dissolved in methanol (50 ml.) and the solution evaporated to a dry white solid in vacuo (this is most successfully carried out by using rotary vacuum equipment). Dimethyloxalate (9.44 g.) and benzene m1.) are then added to the flask and refluxing is carried out for about 10 minutes under nitrogen (not all of the solids dissolve but the cake is broken up). The solution is cooled and hour at20 under Ni-with stirring, and stirring at room temperature under N; is continued overnight. The solution is then poured into'cold water (1 l.) and extracted twice with" chloroform. The chloroform extract is discarded and; the aqueous solution acidified with percent HCl solution. The product is obtained by extraction with chloroform (3 X 200 ml.), back-washing once with water, drying over anhydrous Na,SO treatment with charcoal, filtration and evaporation of the solvent in vacuo to give a red gum (16.4 g.) which is 2- (2-carboxyethy1)-3-methyloxalyl-5-methoxy-9-chloro- 4-tetralone.

U.V. absorption;

maxima in 0.01 N NaOH at 258. and 363 mu.

maximum in 0.01 N HCl at 347 mu,minimum at 277 mp... The gum gives a deepred color with ferric chloride in methanol and liberates CO 'from a saturated NaHCO solution.,

The acid is es'terified by dissolvingin chloroform (l l.), methanol 50 ml.) andconc. H SO (10 ml.) and refluxing gently for hours.- The solution is cooled, poured into excess water and the chloroform layer separated The. aqueous layer is extracted with chloroform (250 ml.) and the combined chloroform extracts are backwashed twice with cold water. The extract is then driedover anhydrous sodium sulphate, treated with activated charcoal, filtered and evaporated to a red gum in vacuo. This gum does not liberate CO from saturated bicarbonate solution, and gives a deep red color with ferric chloride in methanol.

The ester product, 3825 grams, and 1.275 g. of sodium hydride (56.5 percent solution in oil) are dissolved in 25 ml. of dimethylformamide. An exothermic reaction sets in with the evolution of hydrogen gas. After the evolution of gas ceases the mixture is warmed at 40 C. for one-half hour where further evolution of hydrogen gas occurs and the reaction mixture darkens. The reaction mixture is finally digested on a steam bath for 10 minutes after which it is cooled and acidified with'glacial acetic acid (15 ml.). The product is-then obtained by dilution of the mixture with water followed by extraction with chloroform. The dried chloroform solution is concentrated under reduced pressure to ob tain a gummy residue which crystallizes on trituration in methanol. The orange-yellow crystalline product, 2-' carbornethoxy-S-rnethoxy-8-Ehloro-3,4,IO-trioxol,2,3,,4,4a,9,9a, l0-octahydro-anthracene, l.2

melts at 196-20.I.5C. e

EXAMPLEXIII rated with water to removesodium acetate and chromatographed on silicic acid in'chloroform. The main effluent fraction is dried to a-bright yellow solid which is crystallized from chloroform-hexane to provide 380 mg. product melting at 21 8-2l9.5 C.

Elemental analysis, calculated forC l-l O Cl: C, 56.7; H, 3.9; C], 10.5;

found: C, 56.86; H, 3.89; Cl,*l0.8 percent.

EXAMPLE XIV on carbon in ethanol with 40 psi hydrogen gas at room temperature until one molar equivalent of hydrogen is consumed. The reaction mixture is filtered and concentrated at reduced pressure to obtain the product.

It is further converted to diethyl 3-(a-N,N- dimethylamino-3-methoxybenzyl-)adipate in the following manner:

The %-hydroxy benzyl adipate ester, 0.01 mole in 15 ml. dimethoxyethane, is added to a stirred mixture of 1.9 g. (0.01 mole) p-toluenesulfonyl chloride and 2.5 ml. dry pyridine in an ice bath. When the reaction subsides the mixture is permitted towarm to room temperature, stirred for three hours, and poured into 50 ml. water. The pH is adjusted to 5 and the resulting tosyl ester recovered by filtration.

The tosylate (0.0025 mole) is combined with 25ml. dimethoxyethane and added dropwise to a stirredsolution of 0.015 mole dimethylamine in 50 ml. dimethoxyethane at 0 C. After addition is complete, stirring is continued for an hour at 0 and the reaction mixture is then heated at 60 for 3 hours under a Dry Ice condenser. The mixture is next evaporated in vacuo and the residue washed with water to remove dimethylammonium toluenesulfonate. The product is recovered by filtration from the water. Substitution of monomethylamine for dimethylamine in this procedure provides the corresponding d-N-methylamino derivative.

EXAMPLE XV off, the solution taken'to dryness, and trietl'iylaminev hydrochloride is removed by washing with water. The

residual white solids weigh 1.1 g. and melt at63-66 C.

After two recrystallizations from hexane and one from ether the product melts at -87.

Anal. Clcd. for C l-1 0 C, 68.68; H, 6.92%

Found: C, 68.59; H, 6.98%

EXAMPLE XVI 2-( 2-Carboxyethyl)-7-hydroxy-4-tetralone 3-(3-methoxybenzyl) adipic acid, 22.46 g., is heated at reflux with hydriodic acid (specific gravity 1.5) for 3 hours and the methyl iodide formed is separated. The

resulting 0.4 g. of crystalline precipiate.

EXAMPLE XVII 2-( 2-C arbomethoxyethyl )-5 -methoxy-8-nitro-4- tetralone One gram of the Example XV product is slowly added to 10 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid containing 2 ml. of 70 percent nitric acid at a temperature of -5 C. The solution is stirred for minutes and allowed to warm to room temperature. The mixture is poured into ice-water mixture and extracted with chloroform, the chloroform layerseparated, dried and concentrated to obtain the product.

EXAMPLE XVIII 2-( 2-C arboxyethyl-S -hydroxy-8-amino-4-tetralone One molecular proportion of aniline is dissolved in 2N I-ICl, employing about ml. thereof per gram of aniline, and the solution treated with one'molecular proportion of 'NaNO at 0 to 10 C. The benzenediazon ium chloride solution is then mixed-with stirring at 0 to 20 C. with an aqueous solution of 2-(2- carboxyethyl) 5-hydroxy-4-tetralone sodium salt and sufficient sodium carbonate to neutralize the excess HCI in the diazotised aniline solution. The pH of the solution is in the range 8-10. Stirring is continuedat 0 C. for approximately two hours after which careful neutralization of the reaction mixture yields the 8- phenylazo compound. The product is collected on a filter, washed and dried.

One part by weight of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-hydroxy- 8-phenylazo-4-tetralone is mixed with 20 parts by weight of methanol and one-fifth part by weight of 5 percent palladium-on-carbon catalyst is added to the mixture which is thenhydrogenated at -45 psi of hydrogen gas in a conventional shaker apparatus at 30 C. until two molar equivalents'of hydrogen are taken up.

After filtration, the product is recovered by high vacuum distillation of the residue obtained by removal of the solvent in vacuo. Care must be exercised to protect the amino phenol from air. It can be stabilized by acetylation, as follows: 1

The crude amine is placed in 20. parts water containing one molar equivalent of HCl, and 2.2 molar equivalents of acetic anhydride are added. Sufficient sodium acetate is then added to neutralize the I-ICI and the solution is warmed to 50 C. After 5 minutes the mixture is cooled and the crude acetate separated by filtration. The solid is then dissolved in cold 5 percent sodium carbonate solution and reprecipiated with 5% l-ICl. The 2-(2-carboxyethyl)-5hydroxy-8-N- yl)ethyl]adipicacid diethyl ester acetylamino-4-tetralone obtained in this manner is a preferred form of the amino compound for further reaction sequences.

EXAMPLE XIX 3-( 2-Amino-5-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid The procedure of Example XVIII is repeated using 3- (3-hydroxybenzyl) adipic acid as starting compoundto obtain this product. It may be converted to the product of Example XVIII by the ring closure procedure of Example VI.

EXAMPLE XX 3-(2-Chloro-5-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid Three. parts by weight of the product of Example XIX (obtained by evaporating the methanol) is protected from air, immediately mixed with l0 parts by weight of 10 percent aqueous hydrochloric acid at 0 C., and diazotized by gradual addition of 20 percent aqueous sodium nitrile solution. Addition of sodium nitrite is continued until a positive starch iodide test on a few drops of the reaction mixture is obtained in the convention fashion. The resulting solution is then added to 15 parts of a-boiling 10 percent solution of cuprous chloride in aqueous hydrochloric acid. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes and allowed to cool. The product separates from the cooled mixture and is collected in the conventional manner.

This procedure is used for the preparation of 3-(2- substituted-5-hydroxy-benzyl) adipic acid compounds such as 2-bromo (using Cu Br and NBr), 2-iodo (using KI and H EXAMPLE XXI 3- [a-Hydroxy-a-( 2-chloro-5-methoxy-phen- To a solution of 3-(2-chloro-5-methoxybenzoyl)adipic acid diethyl ester in dimethoxyethane is added dimethoxyethane solution containing a molar equivalent of methyl magnesium bromide. After standing for 30 minutes, the reaction mixture is acidified cautiously with ice and aqueous 6N I-ICl, and extracted with methylene chloride. The extracts are combined, washed with water, dilute aqueous sodium bicarbonate and water, dried and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain the product. I

EXAMPLE XXII 3-[a-(2-Chloro-5-methoxyphenyl)ethylladipic acid diethyl ester The product of Example XXI, 2 g., is dissolved in I50 ml. of glacial acetic acid and hydrogenated at a pressure of 40 psi of hydrogen gas for 24 hour at room temperature in the presence of 2 g. of 5 percent palladium-in-carbon catalyst. The mixture is filtered and then concentrated. The product is obtained by vacuum distillation of the residue.

EXAMPLE xxm 3,3,4-Trimethoxybenzophenone A mixture of 40 g. of 3-methoxybenzoyl chloride, 32 g. of veratrolo and 250 ml. of carbon disulfide in a 3 neck round bottom flask fitted with reflux and stirrer is cooled to C. Then 40 g. of aluminum chloride is added portionwise to the cooled mixture and the mixture stirred for 45 minutes, after which it is'allowed to warm to room temperature. A vigorous reaction ensues with the separation of a yellow precipitate. The mixture iscarefully warmed on a steam bath and stirred for 1% hours. Water is then added to the cooled mixture and the carbon disulfide is 'steamdistilled off. The resultant mixture is then extracted with chloroform and the chloroform layer separated, washed with 4 dilute hydrochloric acid, followed by dilute sodium hydroxide and then dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residual oil is distilled to obtain the product,

b.p. 216 218C. at 1.5 mm. mercury. A 65 percent yield of product'is obtained. The viscous product is mospheres of hydrogen gas for 1.5 hours. The resultant solution is filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residual oil is distilled to obtain the product b.p. l92-l94 C. at 2.5 mm mercury. The product crystallizes. on-standing, the melting point of the crystals being 4546 C. Elemental analysis-gives the following results: Calcd. for: C H O C, 74.39; H, 7.02

Found: C, 74.502 H, 7.18.

METHOD B a This product is also obtained by hydrogenation of the starting compound of Method A using 10 percent palladium on carbonin-ethanol at 50 C. and 40 psi of hydrogen gas. The hydrogenation procedure is also carried out atroom temperature, although the uptake of hydrogen is considerably slower than at 50 C. The product is obtained by filtration and concentration of the hydrogenation mixture.

EXAMPLE XXV EXAMPLE XXVI 3-( 3-Hydroxybenzyl)-hexa-2-4-di-enedioic Acid A mixture of 3.5 g. of 3,3'4-trihydroxydiphenylmethane in 50 ml. of acetone and 50 ml. of 10 percent aqueous sodium hydroxide is cooled to 0 C. Thirty ml. of .35 percent aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is then added dropwise, the mixtureturning pale pink.

after 5 to minutes. An exothermic reaction occurs with considerable boiling and foaming The mixture is allowed to standfor 1 hour and is then extracted with,

ethyl acetate, the extract being discarded. The aqueous solution is thenacidified and extracted with ethyl acetate. Concentration of the ethanol acetate extract after drying gives the product as a gummy residue.

EXAMPLE xxvn 3-( 3-Hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid The product of the preceding example (105 mg.) is dissolved in 13 ml. of ethanol containing 1 drop of concentrated hydrochloric acid and hydrogenated over platinum oxide at 1 atmosphere of hydrogen gas at room temperature. The hydrogen uptake is exactly 2 molecular equivalents. Filtration-and concentration of reaction mixture gives the product.

EXAMPLE XXVlll EXAMPLE XXIX 3-( 3-Methoxybenzyl)hexa-2,4-dienedioic acid Five grams of 3,3'4-trimethoxydiphenylmethane are dissolved in 50 ml. of acetic acid containing about 10 drops of water and ozonized air containing about 4 percent 0 is then passed into thev mixture for 1.5 hours (total of about 6 moles of ozone). The resultant yellow solution is poured into 1 .literof water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform layer is separated,

' prepared by refluxing the acid for 3 days in ethylene dichloride containing the appropriate alcohol and sulfuric acid.

EXAMPLE XXX 3-( 3-Methoxybenzyl)adipic acid dimethyl ester The ester of the preceding example is hydrogenated in ethanol over 10 percent palladium on carbon at l atmosphere of hydrogen gas at room temperature. The v tained by hydrogenation of the free acid of the preced-' ing example.

EXAMPLE xxxr The following monoester compounds are prepared byreduction of corresponding benzoyl diesters according to the methods ofExample I. The free adipic acid derivatives are prepared by the methods of Example II from the corresponding .benzoyl adipic acids. The products are subsequently converted to the corresponding diesters by conventional procedures, e.g. Example ll, Method B.

3-b enzyladipic acid monoethyl ester 3-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-(2-chloro-5-methoxybenzyl)adipic acid, monomethyl ester 3-( 2-dimethylamino-S-methoxybenzyl )adipic acid monomethyl ester 3-( 2-amino-5-methoxybenzyl)adipic acid 3-( 2-acetamido-5-methoxybenzyl )adipic acid 3-( 3-hydroxy-benzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-(3-methyl-5-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-(2,3-dimethyl-5-hydroxybenzyl)adipic monoethyl ester 3-( Z-methyl-5-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-( 3-dimethylamino-5-hydroxybenzyl )adipic monoethyl'ester 3-(2,3-dimethylbenzyl)adipic acid monomethyl ester 3-( 3,5 -dimethoxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-( 3-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester ,acid

acid

3-( 3-isopropyl-5-hydroxybenzyl )adipic acid monoethyl ester v 3-.(,2,3-diethyl-5-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-( 5-benzyloxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-( 2-chloro-5-benzyloxybenzyl )adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-( 3-propionyloxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-( 3-acetyloxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-( 2-amino-5-benzyloxybenzyl )adipic acid monobenzyl ester 3-( 2-propyl-5-propoxybenzyl )adipic acid monomethyl ester acid acid

acid

acid

acid

.735 3-(2-chloro-3-dimethylamino-5-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid 3-( 3,5-dimethoxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3 2-methylamino-5 -propoxybenzyl )adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-( 2-methyl-5-hydroxybenzyl )adipic acid 3 2-amino-5 -benzyloxybenzyl )adipic monomethyl ester 3 3-acetamido-5-hydroxybenzyl )adipic monoethyl ester 3-(2-chloro-3,5-dihydroxybenzyl)adipic monoethyl ester Y acid acid

3-(3-trifluoromethyl-S-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester 3-(3-hydroxybenzyl)adipic acid monoethyl ester The corresponding diesters are prepared by esterification of these compounds with the selected alcohol by the usual method.

Those compounds having a benzyloxy substituent are reduced by the procedures of Methods A or Cof Example Il. Of course, the procedure of Example II, Method A, results in hydrolysis of the ester groups and necessitates re-esterification.

EXAMPLE xxxn Alpha-hydroxybenzyladipic acid compounds corresponding to the products of Example XXXI are prepared by hydrogenation of corresponding benzoyladipic acid compounds according to the .Method of Example XIV.

The a-hydroxybenzyl adipate diesters are further converted to the corresponding a-dimethylamino and a-monomethylamino derivatives via the tosylates by the procedure described in Example XIV. For this procedure hydroxy substituents other than the ahydroxy group are avoided by employing the corresponding methyl ethers; likewise, amino substituents are employed in acetylated form.

The a-amino benzyl adipates obtained in thismanner are further converted to the corresponding l-amino-4- tetralones-of structure III by the procedure of Example VI.

EXAMPLE XXXIII The procedure of Example XXI is repeated to produce the following compounds from corresponding benzoyladipic acid compounds using Iower alkyI-ma gnesium halides.

diethyl 3-(a-hydroxy-a-phenethyl)adipate diethyl 3-[a-hydroxy-o-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]adipate dimethyl 3-[a-hydroxy-a-(Z-dimethylamino-S- methoxyphenyhethyl]adipate dimethyl 3-[a-hydroxy-a-(2-amino-5-methoxyphe'nyl)ethyl]adipate dimethyl yphenyl)ethyl]adipate diethyl 3-[a-hydroxy-a-( 3-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl] adipate diethyl 3-[a-hydroxy-a-(2-chloro-5-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]adipate diethyl 3-[a-hydroxy-a-(3-methyl-5-hydroxyphen- I yl)ethyl]adipate diethyl 3-[a-hydroxy-a-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]adipate acid 3-[a-hydroxy-a-(Z-acetamido-S-methox- 

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein X, X1 and A are each hydrogen; X2 is lower alkoxy, R3 and R4 are each lower alkyl; Y2 is lower carbalkoxy and X4 is -CONH(lower alkyl).
 3. A compound of the formula
 4. The compound of claim 1 wherein X1 is chloro; A is hydrogen; X and X2 are each hydroxy; R3 and R4 are each lower alkyl; Y2 is lower carbalkoxy and X4 is -CONH(lower alkyl).
 5. The compound of claim 1 wherein X1 and A are each hydrogen; X IS amino; X2 is lower alkoxy; R3 and R4 are each lower alkyl; Y2 is lower carbalkoxy and X4 is -CONH2.
 6. The compound of claim 1 wherein X and X1 are each hydrogen; X2 is lower alkoxy; A is lower alkoxymethyl; R3 and R4 are each lower alkyl; and Y2 and X4 are each cyano.
 7. The compound of claim 2 having the formula
 8. The compound of claim 3 having the formula
 9. The compound of claim 4 having the formula
 10. The compound of claim 5 having the formula
 11. The compound of claim 6 having the formula 